Chapter 40

Chapter 40

40. Reunion (4)

“···Who are you?”

When the old knight was showing faint wariness.

Benrik who was standing awkwardly quietly hid his body behind his back.

“I received the letter well.” “······.”

Drenor who noticed the subtle atmosphere flowing between the two people quietly removed his hand from the sword hilt and said.

“I am the knight Drenor enfeoffed in Vinter territory and a loyal servant of Margrave Silvan Bromwood.”

An indifferent gaze stayed on the old knight once.

“It is Gerik.” “Even otherwise I was curious what kind of person, it is nice to meet like this.” “Do you know me?”

Even knowing that the old knight in front is a noble there was no change in Gerik’s attitude.

“Of course I know. You left many traces in Bromwood too, and in the Ironblood Fortress too.” “···Ah.”

Drenor also did not show a sign of particularly caring.

“It was not kidnapping.” “···?”

Kidnapping? Surely, did he chase thinking he was kidnapped by Drenor?

Benrik thought there is no way but quietly stepped forward.

Because while the two people exchanged short conversation he grasped the current state of his mood.

The current emotional state of Gerik looked quite stable. That is a state of being appropriately in a bad mood without anything particular.

If he was in a very heated state as Yerik said he would have first slapped and seen whether there is an old knight next to him or not.

“It has been a long time.” “Yes. It has been a long time.”

At the child’s peaceful greeting Gerik smiled fiercely.

‘Hmm, is it not?’

Is he restraining because in front of a noble? It was when he was unsure.

“By the way did you say just now that it is a magical entity?”

At Drenor’s question only then Gerik’s gaze fell from Benrik.

“That is so. This is not the trace of a magical beast but of a magical entity.”

Saying so he turns toward the slave merchants’ corpses that are burning vigorously. And grabs one less burned arm that popped out and tears it off.

─Crack!

At that scene hard to describe both Drenor and Benrik lost their words.

Even if they are guys who deserve to die that is a bit···.

Whether or not Gerik unfolded the stiffly hardened fingers one by one and showed.

“This black ash powder is the evidence that it is a magical entity.”

···Was there no need to tear the arm to show that. Is it seizing the initiative?

At Gerik’s affirmation Drenor’s face became one layer more serious. Seeing the reaction it seemed he also knows what a magical entity is.

“How is a magical entity here···?”

Drenor muttered as if unable to understand. Actually the reason Benrik was unsure was also because of that.

Because he heard that magical entities cannot leave the northern border that the Ironblood Lord protects.

To the man in front.

“That is something you guys have to find out gradually.”

But somehow the attitude of treating Drenor has been subtly crooked from a while ago.

Gerik is a medieval barbarian as if drawn, but he was not a human who does not even know basic courtesy.

He was polite even to the village chief of Logon Village, and showed a respectful appearance even to the tax collector who came once every other year.

What? Is he regarding him as the lackey of the creditor?

“Come to think of it why did you come here? Surely did you really come to repay the debt?”

When asking while recalling Gerik’s eye shape became fierce.

“Debt? What kind of debt?” “···? I wrote it in the letter. That you received the advance payment from the Count of Bromwood and ran away?”

Then he growled like an angry fang.

“Funny words, I clearly finished the request.”

What, then does it mean the Count of Bromwood lied?

“Tsk, that sinister old man. I knew he would stab me in the back.”

The thing Gerik muttered and the chilly blade touching his neck were almost simultaneous.

“···Old man. Did you become senile, what are you doing?”

Drenor pointing the pitch-black black iron sword at Gerik’s neck.

“Do not play the mouth carelessly.”

The expression of the old knight who was insulted about his lord in front of the face was chilly as never before.

“I do not look at because one is old.” “The body also does not seem intact but wouldn’t it not be good to show unnecessary recklessness?”

At the old knight’s gentle provocation Gerik’s pupils took on a ferocious light.

“Did you receive from the priest that the day of death is today?” “Both of you stop.”

At the cheeky voice the two people’s gazes turned downward.

“Isn’t it that one has to catch that magical entity or whatever?” “······.” “Father.” “What.” “Was the reason you suddenly turned direction east after coming to Bromwood because of the blood-sucking rats?” “Correct.” “He says so, Sir Vinter also has to process the blood-sucking rats as soon as possible right?” “···That is so.”

Whatever the reason as a result the interests of the three people matched.

Then it is a matter with nothing to delay.

“Let’s go catch it.”

“What?” “Hmm···?” “Let’s go catch that magical entity called blood-sucking rats or whatever.”

Gerik would have been going alone because he is confident in catching of course, and Drenor also did not say that he could not catch because the magical entity is strong but because it ran away.

‘If such two people cooperate it would be easier right?’

He said with such a thought, but the two people who met eyes said.

“You wait here.” “Yes, I also think doing so is good.”

What? Leaving me out like this?

When Benrik made an expression of not being able to accept they added.

“The eyes, tsk···. I am saying because one might get involved if not careful. If you want to die follow.” “No. Since when did you worry about me like that?”

At that moment, a black heat haze rose above Gerik’s shoulder.

“···!”

When reflexively jumping and opening distance, Gerik narrowed his eyes.

‘T-this crazy human···!’

While blankly looking at the shoulder beyond that rose for a moment and disappeared Gerik muttered meaningfully.

“The sense became better?” “···Because I also did not just play and eat after leaving home. I experienced some hardships in my own way.” “I have seen guys who die while bluffing countless times with my two hands.”

Gerik who was muttering as if the confident child does not suit the heart suddenly his gaze reached the grayish-white leather armor.

“···Well, dying while wearing frost snake armor and being bitten is also a talent.”

Saying so he starts walking step by step.

Benrik who soothed the fluttering heart quietly looked at Drenor.

Then Drenor let out a low sigh as if it can’t be helped.

“Just don’t fall greatly from my side.” “Yes.”

Actually Benrik did not greatly care even if remaining here. It is true that he is curious what on earth a magical entity is, but that is not more important than life.

But there is no guarantee that it is safe just because it is this place.

How does one know if the guys flying like bats will avoid Gerik and Drenor and come this way?

‘Rather than that···.’

It is better to stick tightly next to a person who has the ability to solve the problem.

Above all, if only the two people are left together it seemed something not good would occur.

Like that the three people’s subtle companionship started.

***

─Tadat···.

In front of the bonfire burning into scarlet.

Gerik who was gauging something while looking east as if looking at a distant mountain clicked his tongue low, tsk.

“Tsk, the distance opened more.”

He muttered discontentedly then looked at the old knight.

“There, try wrapping up well, until when will you only play hide and seek?”

At the blunt words the old knight who was sitting on one side wiping the utensils responded in a gentle tone.

“I am trying.”

The blood-sucking rat colony that sensed Drenor’s mana is quietly changing direction and increasing the movement speed.

So unlike the expectation that one would catch up to the colony in two days the distance with the colony was not narrowing easily.

“Don’t interfere unnecessarily, how about going back and preparing the reward thickly?” “I have no memory of entrusting a request to you. Are you hoping for a price after doing voluntary service?”

Gerik who was pushed in the verbal fight rolled his eyes.

“This old man like an old bear is going to wipe his mouth clean?” “Above all if I moved alone without you I would already have caught up in the early evening.” “Oho, can you know where the guys are without me?”

Benrik turned off the nerves appropriately and stood up from the place.

Because he knew from the experience of the past two days that they only do that with words and stop.

“Where are you going?” “Where are you going?”

The two people’s gazes reached the child at the same time. Benrik answered while feeling a subtle burden.

“···Because it seems firewood will be insufficient.” “Don’t go too far.” “Yes.”

Benrik who said so stood up from the place and found an empty lot where the two people’s gazes do not reach appropriately.

He was thinking of practicing the sword in a place where the gaze does not reach appropriately. Because showing the appearance of swinging the sword in front of Gerik was unnecessarily embarrassing.

Like that when Benrik who finished practice for a while returned to the campsite again Gerik was alone guarding in front of the fire.

“······.”

Benrik realized that Crisis Sense is quiet and carefully took a seat next to him and sat.

Gerik was fixing his gaze on the fire with an unreadable expression.

“What about Sir Vinter?” “He said he is going to meet someone and come.”

Benrik looked around the quiet grass.

‘···Suddenly?’

Come to think of it did he say there is a hawk tracking the blood-sucking rat colony? It was when he was guessing in his own way.

“You awakened mana.” “Yes.” “You cannot gather mana, how did you do it?”

Benrik looked at Gerik with surprised eyes. Did he know about the constitution?

“Did you know?”

Gerik who received the child’s gaze lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“I said, you have no talent.”

Correct, that was so. Was that such a meaning. Benrik who understood slowly opened his mouth.

“I received and ate something called the Tear of the Mother Tree.” “Tear of the Mother Tree? Isn’t it the sacred object of the fairy-kin?” “Huh? Do you know what it is?” “Of course I know. Because there were countless noble guys who hung requests that if one obtains it they give a huge amount of money.” “I helped find a princess called Baan a while ago.” “Baan?”

Benrik who got excited at Gerik’s reaction said the things that happened in the meantime.

The matter of encountering the shouting old tree in a group, The matter of encountering the group that kidnapped Baan, The matter of going to receive the reward and discovering the forest keeper’s corpse, and even the matter of discovering Baan hiding in a bottle in that house and seeing through the guy’s lie.

When finishing all the stories, Gerik’s expression looked somehow unpleasant.

“Giles······. Giles.” “Since there was no story that he was caught, he probably went to Northford safely. If we meet someday I won’t be hit helplessly like this time. So I also drank the tear.” “Northford···.”

Gerik who repeats the same words like a broken radio. Benrik who blankly looked at that appearance asked.

“Come to think of it what did the words Sir Vinter said yesterday mean?” “What words.” “That father’s body is not intact.”

Where is not intact that looks more vigorous than anyone.

“Ah···.”

Gerik said calmly as if nothing.

“It means the heart.” “Heart···?”

Gerik who saw Benrik with a hardened expression chuckled.

Hearing it seems there was an accident at the northern Ironblood Fortress before liquidating the mercenary life.

With that accident a problem arose in the mana heart that tonifies mana, and he became unable to use aura, and with that as the opportunity he retired.

The conversation with Jenkinson once came to mind.

─Did he do it that long? Hmm, it is an uncommon matter though. ─What? ─The matter of a mercenary retiring with the body intact.

‘···Was only the outside fine?’

Whatever meaning he took Benrik’s silence as, Gerik said.

“There is nothing to worry about, there is no hindrance to life, and even if one cannot use aura one can use the tribe’s strength as is.” “It is not that···.”

Benrik who was thinking carefully answered innocently.

“Because if someday I become able to use aura I might be able to beat father.”

The time Gerik realized that meaning was a while later.

“······This bastard?”

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